/2012NigeriaPetition

International Christian Concern 2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, #941 Washington, DC 20006 301-585-5915 ♦ icc@persecution.org

PETITION CALLING FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN NIGERIA

Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 3519 International Court, NW Washington, DC 20008 June 18, 2012, Dear Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, It is with great concern that we petition your government to protect the freedoms of religious minorities within Nigeria and to take action against the terrorist group, Boko Haram, for the atrocities they have committed over the past several years. Since 2009, Boko Haram has murdered over 1,000 Nigerians in various terrorist attacks; hundreds of whom have been Christians specifically targeted for their religious beliefs. Boko Haram recently stated that it intends to drive all Christians out of Northern Nigeria in order to achieve its goal of creating an Islamic state governed by a strict version of Sharia law. On March 4th, 2012, a spokesman for the terrorist group stated that they “will launch a number of attacks, coordinated and part of the plan to eradicate Christians from certain parts of the country.” With over 170 million citizens in Nigeria, 48.2% of whom identify themselves as Christians, persecution will only escalate if further steps are not taken to prevent Boko Haram from carrying out its mission of religious genocide. One event that exemplifies Boko Haram’s violence toward Christians occurred last year, when over 40 people were killed in several terrorist attacks on Christmas day. The site that sustained the most damage was St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, where 35 people were killed. Then, on April 29th of this year, Boko Haram gunmen in Kano drove a church congregation from their building using small explosives before opening fire on the parishioners as they exited, killing at least 16. More recently on June 10th, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for carrying out simultaneous attacks on churches in Jos and Biu during their Sunday morning worship services; killing at least one Christian and wounding more than 40. A spokesman for the group quickly reaffirmed afterwards that attacks on churches would continue until the establishment of an Islamic state in Nigeria. Ambassador Adefuye, we applaud the steps your government has taken thus far in confronting the terrorist threat presented by Boko Haram, however we must urge you to increase efforts to protect religious minorities in Nigeria, including Christians, and to bring to justice those who have committed these atrocious acts of terror. We firmly believe that no one should have to live in fear of their life being taken simply because of their religious beliefs.

Sincerely, International Christian Concern (and attached)

CC: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Richard Lugar, Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

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